During a candidate forum in Hartland Thursday night, Democrat Elissa Slotkin told several hundred people in the audience at the packed Hartland Educational Services Center Forum that she thought they were going to hear a lot about money that evening.

“I made a decision in January not to accept corporate PAC money,” she said after being asked to name the three PACs that had donated the most to her campaign for 8th Congressional District.

By contrast, she said her opponent, incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Bishop, had taken $1 million from corporate special interests over his career in politics.

“It’s a million dollars vs. zero,” she said, adding that her donations came from individuals such as a retired police officer in Rochester who had just made his first political contribution, as well as from Helen in Howell, who made a $15 donation.

Bishop in turn said he had never seen so much money in the 8th District and stated Slotkin had raised $2.6 million last quarter alone “to push lies and distortions” about him and his campaign, calling it “completely uncivil.”

“She was sent here by Nancy Pelosi,” Bishop said, to laughter from the crowd.

The laughter – by turns derisive and occasionally good-natured, as well as general noise from the crowd, became increasingly frequent during the debate for the U.S. House seat, which had been preceded by candidates for three state races and a circuit court judgeship discussing various issues.

The main event appeared to be the final debate, however, as Bishop and Slotkin faced off, joined by Libertarian candidate Brian Ellison, who when asked to name the three PACs that had donated the most to him, answered, “Nothing, nothing and nothing. I refuse to be beholden.”

When asked about immigration, Bishop said there were four pillars to an immigration policy he supports, including securing the borders, as the country couldn’t be sovereign until that occurred; resolving the issue of family separation; addressing the Dreamer population, here in the country “through no fault of their own” and a visa program that is merit-based.

Slotkin said immigration is a national security issue, an economic issue and a moral issue.

“I’ve worked my entire career to prevent homeland attacks and we need to strengthen enforcement at the border, with more agents,” she said, but added there are reasons for allowing immigrants. “We are a nation of immigrants and need to keep the doors open to those facing death and persecution… We need leaders with moral certitude, who stand up when something is right or wrong, not politically expedient.”

The two took on healthcare as well, with Slotkin shooting down what she said was a previous allegation by Bishop that she believed in Medicare for all, which she called false. She advocated for herself as the one candidate who believed in protecting people with preexisting conditions.

Bishop said he believed in protecting those with such conditions as well, saying that he had done “everything to protect healthcare in this country.”

“Government-run healthcare does not work, we need to bring competition back to protect all.”

The crowd found humor in a discussion of about the candidates meeting with constituents if elected.

Slotkin said she would hold a town hall meeting every three months that would be open to anyone and the crowd laughed when she said Bishop has not done a town hall where unscripted questions could be asked in 2 years.

“You can’t call it a town hall without inviting the town to the hall,” she said, to laughter from the crowd.

Bishop said he was elected and reelected because “people know I’m open and accessible,” which drew loud coughing and scoffing.

Ellison one-upped Slotkin, saying he would have town hall meetings every two months, which drew laughter from the crowd which was more good-natured.

On the topic of what could be done to lower the cost of college education, Ellison shared how he had convinced his son not to go to college, but to pursue an electrician apprenticeship, “better than a fine arts degree and debt.”

Bishop suggested “institutions of learning needed to get into a room to talk about what could be expected with every major and help to get to that point” while Slotkin said student loans should be capped at 2.5% interest.

On a final question about what the first piece of legislation they would seek to implement or repeal, Slotkin returned to the issue of money.

“If we flip the House, the first bill should be campaign finance reform,” she said. “No matter what you believe in, if (politicians) are bought and sold, it doesn’t make a difference… Say no outright to that money and vote on behalf of voters, not donors.”

“She has accepted money from the same people I have,” Bishop countered. “If she is concerned about being bought and sold, she should not run for office. The most important thing we can do is pass a balanced budget amendment.”

This comment was met by jeers from the crowd, before candidates began their closing statements, in which Bishop said there was a need to come together for bipartisan solutions and Slotkin agreed.

“I believe in country over party and the system works best when people in both parties work together,” she said. “I ran because the tenor and tone of politics in Washington is unbecoming of the country I love. We can never forget we are public servants.”

Lauren Kovach, 37, of Brighton, said she had attended a primary candidate forum this summer and was surprised at how civil it was. She called this latest forum "interesting" and said she had a feeling the crowd might get volatile.

"People are passionate," she said, adding that she heard something at the forum that definitely secured her vote for one of the candidates. "It's nice to see a packed room. It blows my mind that people don't vote."

Phillip Reid, who lives in Independence Township in the 8th District, said he didn't hear any surprises as he has listened to other exchanges between Slotkin and Bishop, but was excited about the high turnout at the event and hopeful for higher turnout at the polls.